Topic 1 Flashcards
C
Carbon
O
Oxygen
H
Hydrogen
N
Nitrogen
P
Phosporous
K
Potassium
S
Sulfur
Mg
Magnesium
Ca
Calcium
Protein
large biological molecules, or macromolecules, consisting of one or more chains of amino acid residues. Perform a vast array of functions including catalyzing metabolic reactions, replicating DNA, responding to stimuli, and transporting molecules from one location to another. Proteins differ from one another primarily in their sequence of amino acids.
Enzymes
Only part that contain energy to do work.
Amino Acids
Key Elements: C,H,O,N.
Carbohydrates
Key Elements: C,H,O. Perform numerous roles in living organisms. Polysaccharides serve for the storage of energy (e.g., starch and glycogen), and as structural components (e.g., cellulose in plants and chitin in arthropods). The 5-carbon monosaccharide ribose is an important component of coenzymes (e.g., ATP, FAD, and NAD).
Lipids
A group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K). Main biological functions of lipids include storing energy, signaling, and acting as structural components of cell membranes.
Nucleic Acids
Essential for all known forms of life. Include DNA and RNA. Function in encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information.
Antioxidants
A molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When the chain reaction occurs in a cell, it can cause damage or death to the cell. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions.
Nutritionism
An alleged paradigm that assumes that it is the scientifically identified nutrients in foods that determine the value of individual food stuffs in the diet. In other words, it is the idea that the nutritional value of a food is the sum of all its individual nutrients, vitamins, and other components.
Lipid Hypothesis
Proposes a connection between plasma cholesterol level and the development of coronary heart disease.
Cell Walls
Tough, flexible but sometimes fairly rigid layer that surrounds some types of cells. It is located outside the cell membrane and provides these cells with structural support and protection, in addition to acting as a filtering mechanism. A major function of the cell wall is to act as a pressure vessel, preventing over-expansion when water enters the cell. Cell walls are found in plants, bacteria, fungi, algae, and some archaea. Animals and protozoa do not have cell walls.
Plasma Membrane
Separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment. The cell membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and controls the movement of substances in and out of cells. The basic function of the cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings.
Cytoplasm
Jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.
Organelles
Cell Wall, Chloroplast, Plasma Membrane, Cytoplasm, Nucleus, Nucleolus, Chromatin, Golgi Apparatus, Mitochondria, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Ribosome, Vacuoles, Lysosomes
Nucleus
Spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. The nucleus controls many of the functions of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear membrane.
Chromosomes
Thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells. Each chromosome is made of protein and a single molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Passed from parents to offspring, DNA contains the specific instructions that make each type of living creature unique.
Mitochondria
Spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many times, forming a series of projections (called cristae). The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) for the cell.
Chloroplast
An elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing chlorophyll. Photosynthesis (in which energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy - food) takes place in the chloroplasts.
Dermal Tissue
Protects the soft tissues of plants and controls interactions with the plants’ surroundings.
Epidermis Tissue
A dermal tissue that is usually a single layer of cells covering the younger parts of a plant. It secretes a waxy layer called the cuticle that inhibits water loss. Most epidermal cells lack chloroplasts.
Stomata
Guard cells contain chloroplasts and regulate gas exchange between the inside of the leaf and the surrounding air.
Vascular Tissue
Complex conducting tissue, formed of more than one cell type, found in vascular plants. The primary components of vascular tissue are the xylem and phloem. These two tissues transport fluid and nutrients internally.
Xylem
One of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants. Its basic function is to transport water, but it also transports some nutrients.
Phloem
One of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants. Carries organic nutrients (known as photosynthate), in particular, sucrose, a sugar, to all parts of the plant where needed. Concerned mainly with the transport of soluble organic material made during photosynthesis. This is called translocation.
Ground Tissue
Responsible for storing the carbohydrates produced by the plant. Ground tissue comprises the majority of a young plant and lies between the vascular and dermal tissues.The major cells of the ground tissue are parenchyma cells and sclerenchyma cell.
Parenchyma Cells
Function in photosynthesis and nutrient storage. They have thin walls, many chloroplasts, and large vacuoles, and they form the mass of most leaves, stems, and roots.
Sclerenchyma Cells
Hollow with strong walls, and they help strengthen the ground tissue.
Stem
One of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. normally divided into nodes and internodes. The nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, conifer cones, roots, other stems, or flowers (inflorescences); the internodes distance one node from another. Four main functions which are: 1) Support for and the elevation of leaves, flowers and fruits. Keeps the leaves in the light and provide a place for the plant to keep its flowers and fruits. 2) Transport of fluids between the roots and the shoots in the xylem and phloem.
3) Storage of nutrients. 4) Production of new living tissue. The normal life span of plant cells is one to three years. Stems have cells called meristems that annually generate new living tissue.
Leaf
In most plants, leaves are the major site of food production for the plant. Structures within a leaf convert the energy in sunlight into chemical energy that the plant can use as food. Chlorophyll is the molecule in leaves that uses the energy in sunlight to turn water (H2O) and carbon dioxide gas (CO2) into sugar and oxygen gas (O2). This process is called photosynthesis. Made of many layers that are sandwiched between two layers of tough skin cells (called the epidermis). The epidermis also secretes a waxy substance called the cuticle.
Roots
Non-leaf, non-nodes bearing parts of the plant’s body. The first root that comes from a plant is called the radicle. The four major functions of roots are 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients, 2) anchoring of the plant body to the ground, and supporting it, 3) storage of food and nutrients, 4) vegetative reproduction. Storage of food and nutrients. The roots of most vascular plant species enter into symbiosis with certain fungi to form mycorrhizae, and a large range of other organisms including bacteria also closely associate with roots.
Reproduction
Production of new individuals or offspring in plants, which can be accomplished by sexual or asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction produces offspring by the fusion of gametes, resulting in offspring genetically different from the parent or parents. Asexual reproduction produces new individuals without the fusion of gametes, genetically identical to the parent plants and each other, except when mutations occur. In seed plants, the offspring can be packaged in a protective seed, which is used as an agent of dispersal.
Diffusion
Process by which molecules intermingle as a result of their kinetic energy of random motion.
Osmosis
If two solutions of different concentration are separated by a semi-permeable membrane which is permeable to to the smaller solvent molecules but not to the larger solute molecules, then the solvent will tend to diffuse across the membrane from the less concentrated to the more concentrated solution.
Active Transport
Movement of all types of molecules across a cell membrane. The movement of these molecules occurs against their concentration gradient, going from a low to high concentration.
